Rotary engine.



No. 727,769. PATENTED MAY 12, 1903.

`H. o. EssINGToN.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILE-D AUG. 13, 1902.` K

N0 MODEL. A 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

No. 727,769. PATENTED MAY 12, 1909'. H. 0. ESSINGTON.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 13, 1902.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NO MODEL.

Aactivel exhaust-ports changed by f UNITED STATE-s `PATENT OFFICE.

f1 atenaaiitray 1,2, 1903.

HENRY o. EssINGToN, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROTARY ENGINE.

sPEcmIcA'rIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,769, dated guay 12, 190s.

u Application tiled. August 13, 1202. SerislNo. 119,560. (No model.)

Toa/ZZ whom it may concern: i

Bo it known that I, HENRY C. EssINGToN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphiaand State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Rotary Engine, of which the following is a-specication. l

This invention relates to cert-ain improvements in rotary engines. N

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an engine that may 'be readily` reversed at any point without regard to the positionA of the revolving piston and its blades; and a furtherv object is to provide a reversing mechanism by which the direction of flow of steam maybe altered and the the movement of a single operating-lever. f

A still further object of the invention is to provide. in mechanisms of this class for. controlling ihe speed and power of the epgine by 'adjusting the positions of the reversingvalves to govern the quantity of steam ad-v mitted tothe cylinder.

A still further object of `the'inveution is t provide ,an engine of thistype with an exhaust port or ports through which dead steam will be expelled in order to prevent back pressure betweenthe lcylinder-abutments and the piston wings or abutments.

A still further object of the invention is to provide the engine with valves for controlling the quantity of steam admitted to the cylinder for actuating the successive piston-wings and to provide a valve-operating mechanism by which the steam-supply may be cut ot at a desired'point and the steam used expansively. .l

A still further object of the invention is to reducefriction by making the piston-wings or abutments inthe cylinder-abutments in form of rollers. Y L

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel constructionand arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, fit being understood that various changes inthe form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may bemade without departing from the spirit or sacricing any of `the advantages of the Iin-A vention.

In the drawings, Figure- 1 is aside eleva'- tion, partly in section, of a rotary engine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view-of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudi- Fig. 4-is a transverse sectional elevation on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, illustrating the construction of the steam-press and the arrangement of the valves. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of onev of the movable cy1inderabutments detached. gFig. 6fis a similar viewcof.

one of the steam-valves. Similar'numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several igures of the drawings;

The cylinder 10 is mounted on a suitable base, and in its opposite sides are s tuftingboxes through which passes a shaft '11the latter beingmo'u-nted in suitable bearings of any character and provided with a- 'belt or other wheel by which power will be transmitted to the apparatus to be driven. l On the shaft is secured a cylindrical piston-body 12, having peripheral recesses 13, in which are fitted piston-wings 14 in the form otrollers which bear against-the inner curved surface of the cylinder and which may freely turn in the support formed by the recessed pistonbody. At diametrically opposite" points the cylinder is provided with radially-disposed grooves 15, in which are guided transverselydisposed plates 16, having forwardly-extending ears forming supports for a spindle 17 on which is mounted a roller 18, forming a mov- Aable cylinder-abutment, said abutment being held against the periphery of the piston and turning freely as the latter revolves; The 1 abutment is held4 in operative position by steam pressure, the plato 16 having vertif cally-disposed flanges 19, against which the pressure of the steam is exerted as it passes into the steam-'space ofthe cylinder, and in .addition to-this a spring may be 'employedto assistin holding the abutment in proper position. The abutments are forced outwardly by contact with theV piston-wings 14, the' rounded surfaces of the latter ycoming into contact'with the roller-abutments and gradually forcing the same out beyond the outer line of the piston-wings and around the surfaces, permitting the ygradual return of the abutments to normal position after the piston wing has passed. The cylinder-abutments are each located within a casing 20, which is divided into upper and lower compartments 21 and 22 by the abutment-plate 16, and the latter, in addition to the side guides 15, is further guided by the walls of a recess 23, formed in the rear portion of the casing 20, suitable packing-strips being preferably employed in order to prevent the leakage of steam from one compartment to the other. The vertical height of the two compartments is greater thanthat of the flanges 19, and on reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the edges of the flanges are inclined, as indicated at 25, in order that the steam may exert considerable pressure thereon in passing into the cylinder.

At one side of each casing 20 is secured a steam-chest 26, to which steam is supplied through a pipe 27, and said steam-chest isprovided with a horizontally-disposed partition 28, dividing it into two chambers, which communicate through ports 29 and 30 with the upper and lower compartments 2l and 22, respectively, of the casing 20. The steamchest is provided with suitable guideways' for the reception of ported valves 3l and 32, which govern the passage of steam through the ports 29 and 30, respectively, and said valves are so connected to an adjusting mechanism that when one is moved to open communication between thesteam-chest and one of the compartmeuts the other will be closed, and in this manner steam may be supplied 'to the upper compartment 21 to cause 4the movement of the revoluble piston in any direction or to the compartment 22 to elect a movement of the piston in the opposite direction. Each steam-chest is further provided .with guides for the supportof a steam-valve 33 of the peculiar construction illustrated in Fig. 6, said valve being in the form of a plate having recesses cut in its opposite walls in such manner that when the valve is at the limit of its movement in one direction the steam-port 29 will be openedfto the cylinder, and at the opposite end the steam-ports 30`will be opened. One of the ports 29 30 is closed at all times, so that the movement of the steam-valve will open communication through but one of said ports.

In one side of the revolvingr piston 12 is a recess 35, in which are placed a gear-wheel 36 and a pair of pinions 37, the gear-wheel being secured to the main shaft 11 and the pinions intermeshing with said gear and being carried by spindles 38, which project through suitable stung-boxes to the outside of the cylinder. 'l`o the end of each cylinder is secured an eccentric 39, connected by an eccentric strap and rod 40 to the steam-valves 32, the movement of the parts being timed in such manner that steam is admitted to the cylinder immediately after one of the pistonwings passes one of the cylinder-abutments and is then cut ol after the piston has rotated a desired distance, preferably somewhat less than one-quarter of a revolution, the steam being then used expansively until the next succeeding abutment is acted upon. The main exhaust-ports 40 are disposed at the top and bottom of the cylinder and are at all' times open to permit the escape of steam therefrom. The principalv portion of the steam will be exhausted through these ports; but under ordinary circumstances, and especially when traveling at high speed, a quantity of steam will remain in the cylinder between the piston-wing and the cylinderabutment toward which it is moving. Underordinary circumstances considerable back pressure would result from-the compression of the steam between the relatively xed abutment and the rotating piston-wing, and it would result not only in lessening the effectiveness 'of the engin'e,bnt would increase the friction on the abutment-supports and render it necessary to exercise considerable `power to force the abutment outward 'and allow the pistou-wing to pass the same. This dii'culty is overcome by the provision of vents 42 and 43, disposed on each side of the cylinder-abutments, and will permit the escape of the dead steam between the abutment and the piston-wing, Theseyents may be connected by pipes 45 to the main exhaust in order that all of the exhaust-steam may be l'ed"to a common point of discharge. The vent-openings lead to the cylinder and communicate with small casings or chests 46, in which are disposed valves 47 and 48, all of said valves being connected to a single adjusting mechanism which may be moved to open either the pair of ports 42 or the pair of ports 43.

To one side of the cylinder is pivoted a reversing and controlling lever 50, carrying a latch 51, which may locklthe lever in any one of a series of notches in a rack 53, the lever having three main positions-one in the central position, with the engine stopped `and all the steam-supply ports closed, the other two positions serving to close one set of valves and open the opposite set for eecting the rotation of the piston in either direction. The upper valves 47 and 48 of the auxiliary exhaust or vent portions are connected by a rod 54 to the lever 50, the movement of said lever in one direction opening the port 42 and closing` the port 43, and vice versa. Pivoted to the outer faceof the cylinder at diametrically opposite points are two levers 55 and 56, having pin-and-slot connections with the valve-rod 54 and movable simultaneously in the same direction. The levers are pivoted at a central point and at the lower end are connected, respectively, to the lower valves .48 and 47, which control the exhaust-ports IIO VI2C) 42 and 42, and on the movement of the operating-lever the exhaust-port 42 of the upsuitable stung-box inv the valve-chest, thel stems being connected by rods or links 57 to the levers 55 inthe manner shown in Fig. l.-

Thelevers 55 have pin-and-slot connections with the valve-`rod 54 and are moved simultaneously with the movement of thevalverod, so that all of the valves controlling the steam and auxiliary exhaust-ports are simultaneously operated. When the reversing-l posite position will reverse the position of all sys ot'A these valves and cause the'piston to rotate in the opposite direction. Y

In operation, steam b'eiugadmitted through the upper port 29 at the right-hand side of the engine and through the lower port `30 at the left-hand side of the engine, the piston will revolve, the supply of steam being cut 01T before the piston-wings on which the pressure is being exerted reach the upper and lower main exhaust-ports. the main exhausts the steam freely escapes, but a small quantity of steam will remain in the steam-space and will be carried on in advance of the wings in the direction of the` cylinder-abutment at the opposite side of the engine. As the auxiliary exhaust-ports 42 are open, this steam may escape and all back pressure between the advancing wing and the relatively stationary cylinder-abutment will be avoided, and as 4there is little or no pressure on the abutment the latter may readily move outward to permit the passage of the wing. In reversing, all of the steam and exhaust valves are simultaneously operated and opportunity aiorded for the immediate relief of the pressure through the auxiliary ports thus opened, and while one of the piston-wings will at all times be in proper position to be acted upon by the steam-pressure and effect the reversal of the engine as quickly as momentum can be overcome.

The ports of the valves 47 and 48, which control the auxiliary exhausts, may be made somewhat wider than the port-openings leading to the cylinder in order to permit the movement ofthe rod 50 to an extent sufficient to partially close the main steam-ports and regulate the quantity ot' stearnadmitted to the cylinder, and thus lrender possible the adjustment of the power in accordance with the speed and load.

Afterl passing Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination in a rotary engine, of the cylinder, a revoluble piston therein, a casing arranged at one side of the cylinder, a ra` dially-movable abutment guided within said casing and serving to divide the latter into two compartments either of which may be placedin communication with the steam supply, the 'steam-ports leadingfrom the chambers to the steam-space of the cylinder at points on veach side of the abutment,'a steam-chest,

ports leading from the steam-chest to both chambers, a steam-valve operated by the engine and adapted to uncover both ports, and

reversing-'valves independent ot' the steamvalve and movable to permit the passage of steam through one or other of the ports from the steam-chest to one of the chambers.

2. The combination in a rotary engine, of the cylinder, a revoluble piston therein, a movable cylinder-abutment, a casing provided at one side of the cylinder and divided by lthe abutment into tw compartments which respectively communicate with the steam-space of the cylinder on opposite sides of the abutment, a steamchest having ports leading to both compartments, reversing and cut-0E valves for closing or `adjusting the area of said ports, and a slide-valve movable to alternately uncover said ports.

3. The combination in a rotary engine, of the'cylinder, a revoluble piston therein, a casing disposed at one side of the cylinder and having recessed walls, a radially-movable abutment guided in said recesses and dividing the casing into two compartments each communicating with the steam-space of the cylinder, a steam-chest, ports leading from the steam-chest to both compartments, re-

of steam to said compartments, upper and' lower flanges disposed on the abutm ent-plate', and a roller carried by the plate and adapted for contact with the periphery of the piston.

5. The combination in a rotary engine, of the cylinder, a revel u ble piston having Acurved recesses in its periphery, and rollers disposed in said recesses and adapted for contact with the inner circular wall of the cylinder, said rollers forming piston -wings or blades.

6. The combination in a rotary engine, of

IIO

the cylinder, a revoluble piston having peripheral recesses, rollers adapted tothe recesses and forming piston-wings, anda rollerf cylinder abutment adapted for contact with vent or exhaust ports communicating with the cylinder at points adjacent to the cylin der-abutment-s and open to permit the free escape of dead steam as the piston-wings approach the abutments.

8. The combination in a rotary engine, of the cylinder, abutmen ts carried thereby, a piston having radially-disposed wings orblades, steam and exhaust ports fox the passage of steam to and from the cylinder, auxiliary vent or exhaust ports disposed on each side of the abutments, and serving to permit the free escape of dead steam in advance of an approaching piston Wing or blade, valves for closing one set of ports and opening the opposite set of ports and means for simultaneously operating said valves, substantially as specified.

9. The combination in a rotary engine, of the cylinder, a casing disposed at each side of the cylinder, movable abutments arranged within said casings, -a steam-chest arranged at each side of the cylinder and having ports for communication with said casings, reversing-valves for controlling the flow of steam to the casing on one or'other sides of the abutments, auxiliary exhaust-ports formed in thecylinder on opposite sides of each abutment, valves for the auxiliary exhaust-ports, and a single operating-lever connected to all of the reversing-valves and all ot' the auxiliary-exhaust-port valves.

trolling the passage of steam through said,

ports, a pivotally-mounied reversing-lever, a pair of auxiliary levers pivotally mounted on the cylinder, a valve-rod connecting two of the auxiliary exhaust-port valves to the main operating-lever and to the auxiliary levers, and links connecting said auxiliary levers to the remaining exhaust-valves and to allot the reversing-valves.

ll. The combination in a rotary engine, of the cylinder having steam and exhaust ports, a revoluble piston in said cylinder, a shaft carrying said piston, a gear-wheel mounted on the shaft, pinions intermeshing with said gear-wheel, auxiliary' shafts or spindles on which said pinions are secured, eccentrics carried by the anxiliaryshafts or spindles, steamvalves for controlling the admission of steam to the cylinder, and rods connecting said valves to said eccentrics, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my ownJ have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

' HENRY C. ESSINGTON.

Witnesses J. MILES KEPHEART, WM. F. REBER. 

